Flume.



H. H. WINTER.

PLUME..

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28.1912. 1,049,023, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

All u @www w., lm/Zen UNITED SATS PATNT UFFIC.

HAROLD H. WINTER, OF BILLING-S, MONTANA.

FLUIVIE.

To all fwzom t may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD H. WINTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Billings, in the county of Yellowstone and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flumes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention provides a flume formed in sections and composed solely of sheet metal such as galvanized iron, the invention relating most especially to the joint between adjacent sections and to the means for securing the sections and drawing them together when assembled so as to insure a tight joint and prevent leakage.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combina-- tion of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularlj7 set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, forming' a part of the specification, Figure l is a top plan view of the joint formed between adjacent sections of a sheetmetal flume embodying the invention. Fig'. 2 is a section on the line wof Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line g/-y of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of a clamp and the parts of adjacent flume sections secured thereby.

Corresponding' and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The fiume comprises like sections formed of sheet metal, preferably galvanized iron. The sections in cross section are half round and the extremities of each section are oppositely bent, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, one end being bent downwardly, as indicated at l, and the other end similarly bent in an upward direction, as indicated at 2, so that when sections are placed together a space 3 is formed between the overlapping end portions of adjacent sections. This construction results in a close joint between the sections as also in a joint which is reinforced, the latter being due to the bent edge portions l and 2 which stiften the ends of the sections as well as t-he joint. Outer flanges 4 are formed at the longitudinal edges of each of the sections and these flanges have bent edge portions 5 which extend downwardly, the parts 4 and 5 serving to stiffen the fiume longitudinally. In the formation of a flume the sections are placed together with their Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1912.

Serial No. 700,254.

:Patented nee. si, isis.

end portions overlapping a short distance,- the sections being so arranged that the bent end l faces downwardly and the bent end 2 faces upwardly, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. l

The sections are secured by means of clamps, two being had for each joint, one for each flanged portion. Each of the clamps is of like formation and comprises similar members of approximately U-form. Each clamp member comprises a middle portion 6 and end' portions 7 and S. The middle portion 6 is straight and the end portions 7 and S are of different lengths, the end portion 8 being straight and the end portion 7 being curved to conform to the curvature of a side portion of the flume. The middle portions 6 of the clamp members have registering openings which coincide with openings formed in the overlapped portions of the outer ang'es 4 of the flume seetions. A bolt 9 passes through the registering openings of the clamp members and overlapping' parts of the flanges 4 and serves to connect and secure said parts. Each of the bolts 9 has a nut 10 which is arranged upon the under side of the clamp and when the parts are assembled the joint may be drawn closely together by tightening the bolts 9, thereby bringing the bent ends l and 2 of the overlapping parts of adjacent fiume sections close against the adjacent sections so as to insure the formation of a tight joint as well as a stiff reinforced joint. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4 the menibers of a clamp are placed the one above and the other below the overlapping' portions of the ianges 4 of each joint, hence upon tightening the bolt 9 the overlapping end portions of the sections are drawn together.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

In fiumes of large size they will be braced by cross stay bars l1 located at the upper edges of the sides and at the joints formed between the sections, so that advantage may be taken of the fastenings 9 to secure such stay bars when in place. These stay bars may be of any form in cross section, and as shown they are of L-shape.

Having thus described the invent-ion what is claimed as new, is

l. A flume comprising like sections of sheet metal and arranged with the end portions of adjacent sections overlapping, the underlying portion having its end bent upwardly and the overlying portion having its end bent downwardly, and means for securing the sections in assembled position.

2. A flume comprising like sections of sheet metal, each of the sections having one end bent downwardly and the opposite end bent upwardly, and having outer flanges along opposite longitudinal edge portions and having the outer edge portions of said iianges bent downwardly.

3. A flume comprising similar sections having their end portions overlapped and provided with outer flanges along their longitudinal edges and having the outer edge port-ions of the flanges bent downwardly, and clamps for securing the overlapped portions ot adjacent sectionss each of the clamps comprising similar U-shaped members, each member having its middle portion straight and its end portions ot unequal lengths, the outer end portions being straight and the inner end portion curved, and a bolt passing through openings in coincident relation in the middle portions of the clamp members and in the overlapping end portions of the thune sections.

n testimony whereof l atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD H. VNTER.

Vitnesses:

WALTER E. RYNIKER, EDWARD J. SinLnsniNN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

